Ford Motor Company Limited

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Nicholas Lawrence Difiore

John Elliott Whitecar

J William Whikehart

James Alfred Wargnier

Christopher John Hagan

John William Wagner

Randal R Gingrich

Earl R Geddes

Jeffrey Neil Golden

Andrew Cyril Krochmal

Henry F Blind

Bradley Anderson Ballard

Myron Ihor Senyk

James Leo Czekaj

Frank Michael Hirschenberger

Darby Edward Hadley

Max H Behrens

Anthony J Campagne

A vehicle communication system uses one or more components to process both narrow band signals and spread spectrum signals. A spread spectrum-like signal is generated from the narrow band signal. The spread spectrum-like signal is processed as a spread spectrum signal.

Narrow band and spread spectrum communication system for a vehicle

A digital signal processing architecture for an audio system combines multiple functions in programmable and reconfigurable blocks to achieve an efficient use of hardware and chip area. AM, FM, and audio functions can be performed using the same reconfigurable hardware while taking into account the different sample rates and processing functions required for each.

Digital signal processing architecture for multi-band radio receiver

A carrier-based signal is received from a tuner and is digitized to produce a digital intermediate frequency (IF) signal. Automatic gain control is applied to the carrier-based signal either prior to or after digitization. An adaptive intermediate frequency bandwidth control system detects IF signal level after channel filtering. The level is compared to a predetermined threshold having a value related to the known signal level of the AGC'ed signal which is being input to the channel filter in order to provide a measure of either 1) the presence of interfering adjacent channels, or 2) reception or a weak signal which can't be compensated for by AGC. The IF bandwidth is narrowed in either circumstance. Digital FIR or IIR filtering is used. The invention allows bandwidth switching to be done very quickly with minimal transient effects. A threshold value is selected depending upon the IF channel bandwidth being used at any given time.

Digital processing radio receiver with adaptive bandwidth control

An adaptive bandwidth control system optimizes radio reception by controlling intermediate frequency bandwidth and baseband bandwidth to reduce both interference and noise while remaining compatible with AM broadcasts using the NRSC-1 standard. An adaptive IF filter detects the presence of interfering undesired sources. The IF bandwidth is narrowed if any interferers are detected. Simultaneously, the frequency content of the demodulated baseband signal is analyzed to control an optimal baseband bandwidth so that any frequencies containing substantially only noise are eliminated.

Radio receiver with adaptive bandwidth controls at intermediate frequency and audio frequency sections

An adaptive intermediate frequency bandwidth control system detects IF signal levels both before and after channel filtering. The two levels are compared to provide a measure of the presence of interfering adjacent channels. This measure is compared to a programmable threshold and the IF bandwidth is narrowed if any interferers are detected. Digital FIR or IIR filtering is used. The invention allows bandwidth switching to be done very quickly with minimal transient effects. A difference threshold is selected depending upon the IF channel bandwidth being used at any given time.

An acoustic production system having multiple signal sources and a power amplifier driving an acoustic transducer such as a loudspeaker includes an arbitrator in a power limiter circuit to selectively limit the input level of one of the sources to the power amp in response to an overdrive signal from the amplifier. The input level to the power amplifier is automatically reduced in response to the overdrive signal until a predetermined level of limiting has been attained. Once the predetermined level of limiting is reached, the arbitrator outputs a second overdrive signal to prompt additional limiting of the power amplifier output. Preferably, the arbitrator is included in an interior active noise cancellation module combined with an audio entertainment system for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The audio system also preferably separates the audio reproduction into high frequency and low frequency branches, whereby the arbitrator acts upon the signals output in the frequency ranges of active noise cancellation and the bass output of the audio entertainment system that are most likely to overdrive an amplifier.

Arbitration adjustment for acoustic reproduction systems

Digital signal processing (DSP) employing a differential mean calculation automatically distinguishes sections of blank tape from program material (such as music or voice) on cassette tapes. Blank tape produces a negligible differential mean value while program material produces substantial differential mean values. Thus, each differential mean is compared to a threshold so that a cassette player can be commanded to fast forward through a blank section of tape. A music envelope detector insures that low amplitude music signals are not detected as blank.

Blank detector for cassette tape player

An output transducer and amplifier are shared between an audio system and a cellular Phone in an automotive vehicle. An interface arbitrates between the program audio signals and the phone audio signals to select or deselect each of the audio signals depending on the status of each audio source. When only one source is in use then normally the audio signals from that source are selected. If both sources are turned on but a phone call is not in progress, then audio signals from both sources are simultaneously presented to the output transducers after summing. When a call is in progress, only the phone audio signals are selected.

Integrated cellular telephone and vehicular audio system

A voltage-controlled amplifier employs an operational amplifier with negative feedback for setting the gain. A voltage variable resistance such as a junction-field-effect transistor (JFET) is employed as part of a variable voltage divider for controlling the amplifier gain. Resistors in series and in parallel with the JFET determine minimum and maximum resistances corresponding to upper and lower limits for the amplifier gain. Thus, multiple channels of an amplifier can be provided with closely matched characteristics even using separate JFETs in each separate channel which have unmatched characteristics.

Voltage-controlled amplifier using operational amplifier

A multichannel amplifier employs field-effect transistors to vary the gain of operational amplifiers in each respective channel. Gain matching of the respective channels is obtained by providing each channel with a respective DC bias voltage which compensates for differences in pinch-off voltage of the field-effect transistors. The invention permits the use of inexpensive, unmatched JFETs in the amplifier. Close gain tracking achieves very accurate stereo imaging in an audio system.

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Nicholas Lawrence Difiore